thou lookest for any hope or part in it thou shouldest not doe such an evill how often came that in Shall I doe this and sinne against God did any Scripture come in to testifie against thee in the nick did God send in the remembrance of such a mercie past to perswade thee or some mercies to come which thou dependest upon him for That which made Spira's sinne so great was such debates as these before and this made Darius sinne in casting Daniel into the Lions den so great he debated it with himselfe Dan. 6. 14. he was sore displeased with himselfe and laboured to the going downe of the sunne to deliver him he considered that he was as his right hand in all the affaires of his Kingdome and a man entrapped meerely for his conscience and that to put him to death was to sacrifice him to their malice he knew him to be holy and wise worth all the men that sought after his life and yet yeelded these considerations troubled him afore and also after insomuch as he could not sleep for them ver 18. Now because that every such consultation should set an impression upon the heart and countermand the motions of sin when therefore thou dost it maugre all such debates and motives to the contrary this is much against knowledg and very heynous Therefore the Pharises Luke 7. 30. are said to have rejected the counsell of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in or against themselves the words will beare either In themselves because they knew it and tooke it into consideration and yet rejected it and against themselves because it was their destruction The third rule is that the more confirmations any man hath had of the knowledge of that which he sinneth in and testimonies against it the greater sinne against knowledge it is when a man hath had a cloud of witnesses in his observation against a particular sinne and yet doth it and goes on in it it is the more fearfull To goe on against that one witnesse the bare light and grudging of naturall conscience onely is not so much but when it is further confirmed and backed by the word written which a man hath read and with testimonies out of which a man meets with such places wherein againe and againe in reading of it such a practice is condemned and observes it and then also heares it reproved in Sermons and of all sinnes else heares in private conference that sinne spoken against also yea hath in his eye many examples of others sinning in the like kinde which have beene punished yea haply himselfe also yet to sin against all these is exceeding hainous Sometimes God orders things so as a sinne is made a great sinne by such forewarnings so he contrived circumstances that Iudas sinned a great sinne for Iudas knew before that Christ was the Saviour of the world he knew it by all the miracles he had seene as also by his gracious words and converse and he professed as much in following of him and he had the written word against it Thou shalt not murder the innocent But yet further God to aggravate his sinne to the highest orders it so that Christ should tell him of it when he was to goe about it pronounceth a woe to him Iohn 22. 22. that it had beene good for that man that he had never beene borne Mar. 14. 21. and the Disciples they were sorrowfull at Christs speech when hee suspected one of them and shewed an abomination and detestation of such a fact there was a Jurie of eleven men yea witnesses against it yea and Iudas against himselfe he asked if it were he yea and Christ gave him a sop and told him thou hast said it and doe what thou doest quickly which even then might argue to his conscience that he was God and searched and knew his heart and yet hee went out and did it immediately How did hee sinne against the haire as wee speak and how did all these circumstances aggravate his sin But yet a more cleare evidence of this is that instance of Pilate whom God many wayes would have stopt in his sinne of condemning Christ who examining him before the Pharises he could finde no fault with him as concerning those things whereof they accused him Luke 23. 14. and yet to allay their malice unjustly scourged him verse 16. And further when he sent him to Herod as being willing to rid his owne hands of him Herod also found nothing worthy of death in him verse 15. which was another witnesse might have confirmed him concerning Christs innocencie Yea yet further that the fact might be more aggravated a most notorious murtherers life must be put into the scale with Christs and either the one or the other condemned and when the people yet chose Barrabas why sayes Pilate what evill hath he done ver 22. then he distinctly knew and considered that he was delivered up through envie Yea and when hee was upon the bench and ready to pronounce sentence as it were God admonisht him by his owne wife Mat. 27. 19. whom God himselfe had admonished in a dreame she sending him word shee had suffered many things by reason of him that night and therefore have nothing sayes shee to doe with that just man yea he himselfe when he condemns him washeth his hands And thus it falls out in many sinfull businesses which men are about that God often and many severall wayes would knock them off and stops them in their way as hee did Balaam reproves them as he did him by a dumbe Asse 2 Pet. 2. 16. so there by some silent passage of providence and not onely so but by his Spirit also standing in their way with the threatnings ready drawne and brandisht against them as the Angell did with a drawne sword against Balaam and yet they goe on this is fearfull There are 3. Rules also whereby the sinfulnesse of sin as it is against knowledge may be measured from what may be observed IN the act as First the lesse passion or inward violence or temptation to a sinne committed against knowledg the greater sinne against knowledge it is argued to be For then the knowledge is the clearer passion or temptation being as a mist But then to sinne when a man is not in passion is to stumble at noon-day For as drunkennesse takes away reason so doth passion which is a short drunkennesse cloud and mist a mans knowledge And so Aristotle compares the knowledge of an incontinent person to the knowledge of one that is drunk When Peter denied his Master though hee had warning of it before and so it was against knowledge and it was by lying and swearing and forswearing which are sinnes of all other most directly against knowledge yet he was taken unexpectedly and when that which might stir up feare to the utmost in him was in his view for hee was then in the Judgement Hall where his Master just before his face was arraigned for his
dung Mal. 2. 3. and a menstruom cloath yet thou owest it already as thou art a creature and one debt cannot pay another If then we should goe a begging to all the Angels who never sinned let them lay all their stock together it would begger them all to pay for one sinne no it is not the merit of Angels will doe it for sinne is the transgression the destruction of the Law Psal 109. 1. and the least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is more worth than heaven and all that is therein Onely though it be thus unconquerably sinfull by all created powers it hath not gone beyond the price that Christ hath paid for it the Apostle compares to this very purpose sinne and Christs righteousnesse together Rom. 5. 15 20. 'T is true sayes hee that sinne abounds and that one sinne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and instanceth in Adams sinne which staineth all mens natures to the end of the world yet sayes he the gift of righteousnesse by Christ abounds much more abounds to flowing over 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayes the Apostle 1 Tim. 1. 14. as the sea doth above mote-hills Malach. 7. 14. Though therefore it would undoe all the Angels yet Christs riches are unsearchable Eph. 3. 8. hee hath such riches of merit as are able to pay all thy debts the very first day of thy mariage with him though thou hadst beene a sinner millions of yeares afore the creation to this day and when that is done there is enough left to purchase thee more grace and glory than all the Angels have in heaven In a word he is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 5. let their sins be what they will But then wee must come to him and to God by him and take him as our Lord and King and head and husband as he is freely tendered we must be made one with him and have our hearts divorced from all our sinnes for ever And why not now doe we yet look for another Christ and to allude to us as Naomi said to Ruth Is there yet any more sonnes in my wombe that they may be your husbands So say I Hath God any more such sonnes or is not this Christ good enough or are we afraid of being happy too soon in being married to him But yet if we will have Christ indeed without whom we are undone how shall we thou continue in sinne which is thus above measure sinfull no not in one The Apostle speaks there in the language of impossibility and inconsistencie Christ and the raigne of one sinne they cannot stand together And indeed wee will not so much as take Christ untill first wee have seene more or lesse this vission here and sinne appear to us as to him above measure sinfull naturally we slight it and make a mock of and account it precisenesse to stick and make conscience of it but if once sinne thus appeares to any but in its owne colours that man will looke upon the least sinne then as upon hell it selfe and like a man affrighted feare in all his wayes lest he should meet with sinne and starts at the very appearance of it he weepes if sinne doe but see him and hee doe but see it in himselfe and others and cryes out as Ioseph did How shall I doe this and sinne and then a man will make out for Christ as a condemned man for life as a man that can no longer live oh give me Christ or else I die and then if upon this Christ appeares to him and manifests himselfe as his promise is to thē that seek him Ioh. 14. 21. his heart thereupon will much more detest and loathe it he saw it evill afore Out then it comes to have a new tincture added which makes it infinitely more sinfull in his eyes for he then lookes upon every sinne as guilty of Christs bloud as dyed with it though covered by it the grace of God appearing teacheth us to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts The love of Christ constraines him Thinkes he Shall I live in that for which Christ died shall that be my life which was his death did he that never knew sinne undergoe the torment for it and shall I be so unkinde as to enjoy the pleasure of it No but as David when hee was very thirstie and had water of the well of Bethleem brought him with the hazard of mens lives powred it on the ground for sayes hee It is the blood of these men So sayes he even when the cup of pleasures is at his very lips It cost the blood of Christ and so pours it upon the ground And as the love of Christ constraines him so the power of Christ doth change him Kings may pardon Traytors but they cannot change their hearts but Christ pardons none hee doth not make new creatures and all old things passe away because he makes them friends favourites to live with and delight in and if men put on Christ and have learned him as the truth is in Iesus they put off as concerning the former conversation the old man with the deceitfull lusts and he ceaseth from sinne that is from the course of any knowne sin they are the Apostles owne words which shall judge us and if we should expect salvation from him upon any other termes we are deceived for Christ is author of salvation to them onely that obey him Heb. 5. 9. AGGRAVATIONS OF SINNING AGAINST KNOWLEDGE BY THO GOODWIN B. D. LONDON Printed by M. F. for Iohn Rothwell 〈…〉 be sold at the Sun in Pauls Church 〈…〉 M DC XXXVII Contents of Aggravation of sinning against knowledge Doct. TO sinne against knowledge is the highest aggravation of sinning page 34 1. Demonstrations of the point by comparing it with other kinds of sinning 36 How much sins against knowledge doe transcend sins of ignorance 37 1. In sins of ignorance there may be a supposition if he had known it he would not have done it but not so in these ibid. 2. The vast difference between them appears in the repentance God accepts for each a generall repentance for the one not so for the other 39 3. Some kinds of sinning against knowledge exclude from mercy which done ignorantly leave a capacity of it 40 4. Sinning against knowledge is the highest but that of sinning against the holy Ghost 41 6. Reasons 1. Because knowledge is the greatest mercy 42 2. Knowledge is the immediate guide of men in all their waies a man sins against his guide 43 That knowledge is so proved in that an erroneous conscience binds 45 3. Reason Knowledge layeth a further obligation to obedience ibid. Lawes come in force when promulged 46 4. There is the more contempt cast on the law 47 5. In sins against knowledge the will of the sinner closeth more with sin as sin ibid. 6. In sinning against knowledge a man condemnes himselfe 48 Three things handled concerning sins against knowledge ibid.
AGGRAVATION OF SINNE AND SINNING Against KNOWLEDGE MERCIE Delivered in severall Sermons upon divers occasions BY THO GOODVVIN B. D. LONDON Printed by M. Flesher for Iohn Rothwell and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Sun in Pauls Churchyard MDCXXXVII AGGRAVATION OF SINNE BY THO GOODWIN B. D. LONDON Printed by M. F. for Iohn Rothwell and are to be sold at the Sun in Pauls Church-yard M DC XXXVII A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF the Aggravation of sin THe subject is the sinfulnesse of sin page 2. The mischievous effects of the evill of sin ibid. 1. It hath debased the soule ibid. 2. It defiles the soule 1. In an instant 2. Totally 3. Eternally 3 3. It robs the soule of the image of God 4 4. It robs a man of God himselfe 5 5. It was the first founder of hell 6 The essence of sin is the cause of all these evills ibid. Sin an evill that contains all the evils in the world 7 1. It is the cause of sorrowes and diseases and all evills ibid. 2. There is some peculiar mischief in sin not found in other evils as appears in divers instances 8 Quest What transcendencie of evill is in the essence of sin that makes it above all other evill 10 Answ It is contrary to God and all that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. It is contrary to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being ibid. being ibid. 2. It is contrary to all his attributes which are his name is to himselfe and what ever is his ibid. 1. To his lawes and ordinances 2. To his favourites 3. To his image in mans owne breast 11 Sinfulness of sin aggravated from the person suffering being God and man 12 The least sin virtually more or lesse containes all sin in the nature of it proved ibid. Every sin inclines our nature more to sin 13 Sin containes not onely all other evils in it but also all of its owne kind ibid. Sinne a perfect evill ibid. Reasons why sin is the chiefest evill 1. Because it is simply to be avoided for its selfe 2. Because there can be no worse punishment than it selfe 3. Because it cannot have a worse epithete given it than it selfe 14 Use Wonder at the abounding nature of sin 15 Examine our owne estates ibid. Quest When a mans sins may be said to be his own Answ 1. Then he commits sin out of his owne 2. Then he hates it not but loves it 3. Then he nourisheth it cherisheth it 4. Then he provides for it 5. Then he lives in sin 17 Use 2. Consider the punishment of sin is out of measure fearfull 18 It containes all miseries in it 19 What the damned speake of sinne in hell ibid. Use 3. Onely Iesus Christ can conquer sin 21 Christs righteousnesse abounds sins sinfulnesse 22 Come to God through Christ and take him to be our Lord and King 23 Sinne and Christ cannot stand together ibid. We will not take Christ while sin appears sinfull to us ibid. IMPRIMATUR THO WEEKES R. P. Ep o Lond. Cap. Domest AGGRAVATION OF SINNE ROM 7. 13. Was that then which is good made death unto mee God forbid But sinne that it might appeare sin working death in mee by that which is good that sinne by the commandement might become exceeding sinfull WEE finde our Apostle in the 9. verse to have been alive but struck upon the sudden dead by an apparition presented to him in the glasse of the law of the sinfulnesse of sinne Sin revived sayes the 9. verse appeared to be sinne sayes the 13. verse lookes but like it selfe above measure sinfull and hee falls downe dead at the very sight of it I dyed sayes he in the 9. it wrought death in me sayes the 13. that is an apprehension of death and hell as due to that estate I was then in But yet as the life of sinne was the death of Paul so this death of his was but a preparation to a new life I through the Law and dead to the Law that I might live to God Gal. 2. 19. and here hee likewise speakes of Gods worke upon him at his first conversion for then it was that hee relates how sinne became in his esteeme so above measure sinfull The subject then to be insisted on is the sinfulnesse of sinne a subject therefore as necessary as any other because if ever we be saved sinne must first appeare to us all as it did here to him above measure sinfull And first because all knowledge begins at the effects which are obvious to sense and interpreters of the nature of things therefore wee will begin this Demonstration of the evill of sin from the mischievous effects it hath filled the world withall it having done nothing but wrought mischiefe since it came into the world and all the mischiefe that hath beene done it alone hath done but especially towards the poore soule of man the miserable subject of it Which first it hath debased the soule of man the noblest creature under heaven and highest allyed made to be a companion fit for God himselfe but sinne hath stript it of its first native excellency as it did Reuben Gen. 49. 41. debased the soule more worth than all the world as Christ himselfe saith that onely went to the price of it yet sinne hath made it a drudge and slave to every creature it was made to rule therefore the Prodigall as a type is said to serve swine and feed on huskes so as every vanity masters it Therefore we find in Scripture that men are said to be servants to wine Tit. 2. 3. servants to riches and divers lusts c. And hence it is that shame attends upon it Rom. 6. 21. Now shame ariseth out of an apprehension of some excellencie debased and by how much the excellencie is greater by so much is the shame the greater and therefore unutterable confusion will one day befall sinners because sinne is the debasement of an unvaluable excellencie Secondly it not onely debaseth it but defiles it also and indeed there was nothing else that could defile it Mat. 15. 20. for the soule is a most pure beame bearing the image of the Father of lights as farre surpassing the sinne in purenesse as the sunne doth a clod of earth and yet all the dirt in the world cannot defile the sunne all the clouds that seeke to muffle it it scatters them all but sinne hath defiled the soule yea one sinne the least defiles it in an instant totally eternally First one sinne did it in the fall of Adam Rom. 5. 17. one offence polluted him and all the world Now suppose you should see one drop of darknesse seazing on the sunne and putting out that light and eye of heaven and to loosen it out of the orbe it moves in and cause it to drop downe a lump of darknesse you would say it were a strange darknesse this sinne did then in the soule to which yet the sunne is but as a Taper Secondly it
1. What it is to sin against knowledg explained 49 1. Distinction To sinne with knowledge and against knowledge doe differ ibid. A regenerate man guilty of more sins knowne than another ibid. Yet not of more sins against knowledge 50 2. Distinction Men sin against knowledge either objectively or circumstantially only 51 1. What it is to sinne directly against knowledge ibid. 2. What to sinne against knowledge circumstantially onely ibid. This distinction explained out of this Chap. ibid. Sinnes directly against knowledge reduced to two heads 52 1. In regard of our selves 5. wayes ibid. 1. When we abuse knowledg to help us to sin ib. 3. Wayes 1. To plot and contrive sin 2. To colour sins committed by lyes 3. To colour sins by pretence of religion and use their knowledg of religion to plead for and justifie their sin ibid. 2. When men neglect to get knowledge that might preserve them from sinning 53 3. When men refuse knowledge that they may sin more freely 55 4. Is to hate the light and to endevour to extinguish it 55 5. When men hold opinions ag their consciences 57 2. Men sin directly against knowledge it selfe in respect of others 58 1. By concealing knowledge ibid. 2. Men indevor to suppresse knowledg in others ib. 3. When men go about to make others sin against their consciences 59 2. Generall Branch Sins committed collaterally or circumstantially against knowledge 60 It is done 1. Either in particular acts of sinning or 2. In continuing in an estate of sinning against knowledge ibid. Particular instances being infinite 61 A distinction is given concerning them ibid. 1. Some sins more transient ibid. 2. Some more permanent and continued untill recalled though but once committed ibid. Which are of all other most dangerous to commit when against knowledge 62 2. Going on in a sinfull estate against knowledge ibid. Three sorts of men thus sin 1. Such as for worldly ends forbear to professe Christ and his wayes which they know to be such 63 2. Those that defer repentance 65 3. Apostate Professors goe on in an estate of sinning against knowledge ibid. Application 67 2. Head Rules whereby to estimate sins against knowledge 68 Of two sorts before sinning or in sinning 69 1. Before sinning 3. Rules 1. The more a man considers the issues and consequents of a sin ibid. 2. The more consultation and debates before 70 3. The more testimonies and warnings against a sin 71 2. Rules to measure the sinfulnesse of such acts in sinning 3. 73 1. The lesse passion or temptation to a sinne against knowledge ibid. 2. The more inward regreet and sorow reluctancy the stronger is the knowledg so more against it 75 3. The more hardnesse of heart in committing a sin known to be a sin the greater the sin as it is a sin against knowledge 76 3. Head Aggravations drawn from the kind of that knowledge we sin against which are five 77 The more strong the knowledg the greater the sin 78 1. To sin against the inbred light of nature ibid. 2. To sin against the light of education 80 3. The more real experimental light men sin against 82 4. The more shining the light is in the conscience joyned with a taste the greater the sin 83 5. To sin against professed knowledge 85 How great an ingagement and motive it is to men of knowledg to turn to God and to take heed of sinning 87 1. Such an one cannot sin so cheap as others their sins are more castly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. And will have lesse pleasure in sinning ibid. 2. Such are given up to greater hardnesse of heart 88 3. Such God gives up to the worst grossest of sins ibid. 4. At death knowledge sinned against gives up to more horror and dispaire 89 5. In hell it increaseth torment 90 FINIS AGGRAVATIONS OF SINNING AGAINST KNOWLEDGE ROM 1. 21. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankfull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned THere are two generall aggravations the Apostle insists on in these two Chapters of the Gentiles sinfulnesse First their unthankfulnesse ver 21. in despising the riches of Gods goodnesse Chap. 2. 4. Secondly of Rebellion in sinning against knowledge That when they knew him they glorified him not as God And of all other hee inculcateth this of sinning against knowledge as the greatest for bringing in a long large and particular indictment of many severall sinnes Idolatry ver 23. unnaturall uncleannesse ver 26. c. and all kinds of unrighteousnesse ver 29. hee doth both in the beginning and end of the bill bring in this aggravation that they sinned against knowledge in all these So ver 18. he begins the indictment and promulgation of Gods wrath above all for this that they with-held the truth in unrighteousnesse which was as much as all that unrighteousnesse committed barely in it selfe considered And then again in the end when hee comes to pronounce sentence he comes in with this after all particulars had beene reckoned up Who knowing the judgement of God against those which doe such things yet doe them So that this Doctrine is cleare from hence That to sinne against knowledge either in omitting good duties which we know we ought to performe or committing of sinnes we know wee ought not to doe is the highest aggravation of sinfulnesse I put both in both sinnes of omission and commission for so the particular sinnes the Gentiles are taxed for here are of both sorts as not glorifying or worshipping God as well as turning his glory into a lye c. to omit prayer when your consciences tell you you ought to doe it to omit holy discourse examining the heart when you know you ought to doe them are as well sinnes against knowledge as to tell a lie against your knowledge or as to steale and forsweare or murder or be drunke c. Now when I say it is an aggravation to these sinnes my meaning is this That take any sinne thou thinkest most grosse and view it barely in the act of it put the act nakedly in the one scale be it a sinne of uncleannesse or drunkennesse and then put this circumstance which was added to it in the other scale that before and when thou diddest it thou knewest it to be a sinne this alone weighs as much yea more than the sinne it selfe doth that as it is said of Herod that he added this to all his other sinnes that he cast Iohn in prison who told him of his Herodias and so is made as much as all his former sinnes so is this brought in here that in and unto all their unrighteousnesse this was added they with-held the truth the light of their consciences which is as a Prophet from God they did imprison in unrighteousnesse ver 18. And therefore when Daniel would convince Balshazzar of his deservednesse to lose his Kingdome and that he was not
good pretences to cover their sins and dissemble them not onely by finding out some cunning artificiall colour as David did in the matter of Vriah Chance of warre sayes he falls to all alike but when men are so impudently hypocriticall as to make use of religious pretexts as the Devill sometimes doth as Saul who pretends to Samuel I have done the will of the Lord and when Samuel told him of the cattell oh sayes he they are for a sacrifice when God had expresly commanded to kill them all But this shift shifted him out of his Kingdome Samuel pronounceth him a rebell in it Rebellion is sinne against knowledge therefore he knew it Thus also Iezabel coloured over the stoning of Naboth with a solemne fast So Iudas fisheth for money with a charitable pretence This might have beene sold and given to the poore In sins against knowledge usually the mind indevours to find out a colour and that provokes God more than the sinne because we goe about to mock him We see men cannot endure a shift much lesse the All-knowing God not to be mocked and we see it is hard to convince such an one David was faine to be brought to the rack ere he would confesse when he had a shift and men doe seeke such shifts onely in case of sinning against conscience for else there were no need they would be sure to plead ignorance as Abimelech did Secondly when men neglect the getting and obtaining of knowledge which knowledge might keep hinder them frō sinning and might make them expert in duties This is as much as to sin against knowledge although the sins be committed out of ignorance yet that ignorance being through their owne default it comes all to one when it may be said of men as the Apostle doth of the Hebrewes Chap. 5. 12. That for the time they have had to learn they might have beene teachers they had yet need be taught againe the first principles If a man had an Apprentice who through negligence and want of heeding and observing what hee daily sees and heares about his trade might have got for his time much knowledge in his trade whereby he might have saved his master much which hee now hath lost him and rid and perfected much worke hee daily spoiles him such carelesse blockish ignorance it is just for his master to correct him for and to charge on him all that waste and losse because he might have knowne how to have done better And therefore even they who thought ignorance in it selfe no sin wherein they erred yet the neglect of knowledge upon this very ground they thought a great sinne and that it would be so farre from excusing sinnes as that it would aggravate them So here we see these Gentiles shall not onely be reckoned with for the actuall knowledge they had attained to and sinned against but also for what they might have had and have picked out of the creatures For so the Apostle brings in this here in the 20. verse that the power of God being cleerly seen in the creatures they neglecting to spell and reade it so much knowledg as they might have got God will reckon to them and aggravate their sins by Thirdly which is yet much worse when men refuse knowledge that they may sinne the more freely and doe stop the eare lest they should be charmed As when men are loath and afraid and dare not reade such a booke as discovers or might discover that truth to them the submission to which would prejudice them and this to the end that they may plead ignorance of their sinne Thus also those that assent not to truth when it comes in strongly upon them but seek to evade it But 1 Cor. 14. 38. when the Apostle had cleerely discovered the truth in those things controverted so as who ever was spirituall or not fully blind might see and would acknowledge the truth then he shuts up his discourse about them ver 27. If any be ignorant let him be ignorant for it is wilfull it is affected hee speakes it as elsewhere Revel last it is said He that is unjust let him be unjust still that is hee that will be unjust and refuseth to turne let him goe on This is a great sinne for God you see gives such a man over one that is but neglectfull or dull of capacity God will take paines with him to teach him and beare with him as Christ did with his Disciples but if he be wilfully ignorant he lets him die in his ignorance and yet will reckon with him as if all his sinnes had beene committed against knowledge because hee refused to know The fourth is to hate the light and to endevour to extinguish it This is yet much worse when men hate the Word and the Ministers of it the examples of Gods people and the light they carry with them they shining as lights in a crooked generation Phil. 2. 15. and yet they hate these as theeves doe a torch in the night and fly against the light as batts doe and as the Iewes did Iohn 3. 20. This Christ sayes is the great condemning sinne of all others So these Gentiles put Socrates to death for reproving them And thus men sinne also when they labour to extinguish the light in their owne consciences and like not to retaine God in their knowledge verse 28. but would studie the art of forgetfulnesse When men have put the candle out and drawne the curtaines that they may sinne and sleepe in sin more freely and securely Thus those also sin in a higher measure who have had a cleare conviction that they ought to be thus strict and ought to sanctifie the Lords day and pray privately but now have lost this light and think they need not be so strict when men continue not in what they were once assured of as the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 3. 14. these sinne against their knowledge and are the worst of such sinners and this estate Aristotle himselfe makes statum maligni the state of a wicked one namely when the sparkes of light are extinguisht or hated For when any mans light is lost and turned into darknesse by sinning then as Christ sayes how great is that darknesse When good lawes are not onely not enacted and embraced but repealed also it is Aristotles similitude to distinguish an incontinent person and a wicked man this is an high kind of sinning So of these Gentiles it is said their foolish heart was darkned they had extinguisht some of that light God gave them As some drink away their wits so some sin away their consciences and thus by degrees they first sinne away the light of the word they had as they in Iude who were religious once and then they quench even that little sparke of nature that is left Also verse 10. corrupting themselves in what they know naturally Fiftly Men sinne against knowledge yet worse when they hold opinion against their knowledge So
these armies of blessings thou findest the world filled with to fight against their Maker under the devills banner whom thy wickednesse sets up as the god of this world And as the yeere is crowned with goodnesse so thy yeeres with wickednesse and no moment is barren but all thy imaginations are evill continually Yea thou hast sinned against heaven and earth and subjected the whole creation unto vanity laden the earth and filled it so with wickednesse that it groanes the axeltree of it is even ready to crack under thee and the ground thou treadest on to spue thee out Fiftly since thou camest into the world what a long time hath God suffered thee to live in it hee hath not spared thee three yeares onely as he did the figtree but thirty forty And when thou first madest bold to thrust forth thy trayterous head into the world Death which thy sin brought into the world with it might have arrested but for one treason and though all that time of his reprivall he carryes and behaves himselfe never so obediently But unto thee this time hath beene more than a longer day of life and putting off the execution which for the guilt of that first rebellion should have been acted on thee in the womb it hath beene time to repent in And yet hath not this time of thy reprivall made thee so much the more rebellious and hast not thou spent all this time in making up the measure of thine iniquity full and hath it beene will ingnesse onely in God that thou shouldest not perish yea more joyned with waiting also when it should once be thinking the time long as longing and desiring that thou wouldst repent that he might pardon thee Thus Ierem. 13. last God expresseth himselfe when shall it once be yea and consider how many dayes of payment have been set and how many promises made and broken all by thee and yet still hee walteth unto wonderment Thou receiuedst presse money at thy Baptisme when thou didst promise to forsake the devill and all his workes and to begin to serve him when thou shouldst begin to discerne betweene good and evill But no sooner did the light of knowledge dawne in thy heart but thou beganst to fight against him and thy first thoughts to this day have beene onely and continually evill And then haply in thy younger yeares before thou hadst tasted of the pleasures of sinne he gave thee an inkling by meanes of thy education of his goodnesse towards thee and of that happinesse to be liad in him and thou hadst the first offer of him ere thy tender yeares were poysoned by the world and he hath dealt with thee againe and againe both by his Word and Spirit not waited onely but wooed thee and hath beene a suiter to thy heart long and I appeale to your hearts how many promises you have made him of turning from all your rebellions to him after such a Sermon which was brought powerfully home in such a sicknesse and in such a strait thy conscience knowes full well And still God hath made tryall of thee and given thee longer day and though thou hast broke with him againe and againe yet he hath forborne thee againe and againe and hath waited this twenty thirty forty fifty sixty years when thou shouldest come in and be as good as thy word and still thou hast failed him And yet behold and wonder and stand confounded at the riches of his long suffering that after so many yeares expence and promises broken by thee expectations failed in him and many mockeries of him after all this he is yet willing to accept of the remainder if thou wouldst spend the rest of the time left thee in the flesh according to his will as the Apostle speaks 1 Pet. 4. 3. even to lose principall use and all for what is past and requires but the same composition was propounded the first day yea and not onely so but with promise to become a debtor unto thee to bestow further riches on thee than ever yet thou sawest or art able to conceive yea and all this when he could have his penyworths out of thee another way and lose not one farthing by thee but by punishing thee in hell recover all to the utmost Neither seventhly hath it beene barely and simply an act of patience and forbearance though joyned with this willingnesse thou shouldst not perish or meerely a permissive act of suffering thee to live But God shewes forth yet more riches of goodnesse joyned with this long suffering in him ye live and move and have your being and dost thou live in him onely nay thou livest on him also upon his cost and charges I have hung upon thee sayes David from my mothers wombe And consider what thy life is that of so small a bottome he should spin out so long a thred had hee not drawne it out of his owne power as the spider doth her web out of her owne bowels it had beene at an end the second minute to maintaine that radicall moisture that oyle that feeds the lampe and light of thy life that radicale balsamum this is as great a miracle as the maintaining the oyle in the cruze of the poore famished widow And further yet hath he maintained thee onely Nay more hath he not defended thee tooke thy part protected thee tooke thee under his wing as the hen doth her chickens to shelter thee from those many dangers thy life hath been exposed unto Otherwise how many wayes ere this hadst thou been snatcht away out of the land of the living Is thy case the case of the figtree onely which before we mentioned that when God cryed Cut it downe another cryed spare it but there have beene many have cryed Cut thee downe and God hath cryed spare Thee there is never a minute but the devills would have had a blow at thy life as he longed to have had at Iohs That thou a poore lump of flesh shouldst walke through and in the midst of such an host of fierce and cruell enemies whose hearts are swelled with malice at thee and God should say to them all concerning thee as he did to Laban concerning Iacob Touch not this man And yet if thou wert not liable to their malice and power yet consider how many dangers and casualties besides thou hast beene kept in and from as falls drowning killing many wayes how often have the arrows of death come whisking by thee took away those next thee haply of thy kindred brother sister yoke-fellow of the same house family with thy selfe and yet have missed thee And if we look no farther than these dayes of mortality we have lived in two great plagues in this Kingdome how have the most of us all here survived and now the third is increasing and growing upon us To have our lives in such deare yeares of time when to have our life for a prey is mercy enough as Ieremy told Baruch that these arrows should
Lawes come in force when promulged There is the more contempt cast upon the Law In sins againâ—… knowledge 〈◊〉 will of the sinner closeth more with sin as sin In sinning against knowledge a man condemns himselfe â— Things handled concerning sins against knowledge 1. What it is 〈◊〉 sinne gainst knowledge explained 1. Distinction To sinne with knowledge and against knowledge doe differ A regenerate man guilty of more sinnes known than another Yet not of more sinnes against knowledge 2. Distinction Men sin against knowledge either objectively or circumstantially onely What it is to sin directly against knowledge What to sinne against knowledg circumstantially onely This distinction explained out of this Chapter Sins directly against knowledg reduced to two Heads 1. In regard of ourselves five wayes When we abuse knowledge to help us to sin 3. wayes 1. To plot and contrive sinne 2. To colour sins committed by lyes 3. To colour sins by pretence of religion and use their knowledg of religion to plead for and instifie their sinâ— When men neglect to get knowledge that might preserve them from sinning c. When men refuse knowledge that they may sin more freely Is to hate the light and to endevour to extinguish it When men hold opinions against their consciences 2. Men sin directly against knowledge it selfe in respect of others By concealing knowledge Men endevour to suppresse knowledge in others When men go about to make others sinne against their consciences Iohn 9. 2. Generall Branch Sins committed collaterally or circumstantially against knowledge It is done 1. Either in particular acts of sinning or 2. In continuing in an estate of sinning against knowledge Particular instances being infinite A distinction is given concening them 1. Some sinne more transient 2. Some more permanent and continued until recalld though but once committed Which are of 〈◊〉 other most â—angerous to â—ommit when against knowledge 2. Going on in a sinfull estate against knowledge Three sorts of men thus sin Such as for worldly end forbear to professe Christ aâ—… his waies whiâ—â—… they know to be such Psal 125. ult Those that defer repentance Apostate professors goe on in an estate of sinning against knowledge Application 2. Head Rules whereby to estimate sinnes against knowledge Of two sorts Before sinning or in sinning 1 Before sinning 3. rules 1. The more a man consider the issues and consequents oâ— a sinne Rule The more consultations and deâ—â—tes before 3. Rule The more testimonies and warnings against sinne 2. Rules to measure the sinfulnesse of such acts in sinning 3. The lesse passion or temptation to a sin against knowledge The more inward regreet and sorrow and reluctancy the stronger is the knowledge and so more against it The more hardnesse of heart in committing a sinne knowne to be a sin the greater the sin as it is a sin against knowledge 3. Head Aggravations drawne from the kindâ— of that knowledge we sinne against which are five The more â—…ong the knowledge the â—â—eater the sin To sin against the inbred light of nature Hab. 1. 14. To sin against the light of education The more reall and experimentall light men sin against The more shining the light is in the conscience joyned with a taste the greater the sin To sin against professed knowledge How great an engagement motive it is to men of knowledge to turne to God and to take heed of sinning Such an one cannot sin so cheap as others their sins are more costly and chargeable and will have lesse pleasure in sinning Such are given up to greater hardnesse of heart Such God gives up to the worst and grossest of sins At death knowledg sinned against gives up to more horror and despaire Hell it ineaseth torent Ephes 2. 7. Psal 104. 24. Luke 6. 33. Rom. 11. 35. Psal 24. 1. Psal 50. 11 12. 1 Chron. 29. Psal 104. 29. Luke 6. 34. Psal 16. 2. Luke 6. 35. Psal 7. 11. Revel 2. 21. Mat. 18. 29. Luke 13. 17. Heb. 1. Iohn 1. 10. 1 Tim. 1. 16. 2 Pet. 3. 1. Acts 1. 25. 2 Pet. 3. 9. Gen. 6. Acts 17. 26 27 28. Acts 14. 16. Luke 6. Ier. 5. 26 27. Hab. 2. 10 11. Psal 137. 7. Psal 8. 5. Psal 139. 15. Eccl. 12. 2. Rom. 6. Psal 104. 23. Psal 104. 10 11. Psal 65. 11. 1 Pet. 4. 3. Iob 33. Eccles 5. 17. Iob 21. 25. Lamen 3. 22. Acts 14. 17. Psal 41. 3. Psal 127. 2. Ier. 31. 26. Gen. 28. 20. Iob 37. 17. Exod. 15. 26. Psal 68. 19. Deut. 8. 18. Prov. 22. 1. Iob 5. 21. 2 Sam. 1. 26. Gen. 33. 10. Iob 32. 8 9. Acts 14. 17. Eccles 8. 11. Deut. 32. 6. 1 Sam. 2. 25. Esay 7. 13. Hos 11. 6. Mat. 5. 46. Esay 1. Amos 2. 13. Psal 68. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 3. 2 Thes 5.